The campaign is being funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of Justice at a total cost of €450,000 for a three-phase campaign over nine months. Phase one will run from 1 November 2008 in communities in the areas of Tallaght LDTF, Blanchardstown LDTF, South West RDTF, North Inner City LDTF, and Dublin North East LDTF. In the second phase, to be rolled out in January 2009, the initiative will be promoted throughout the country. However, Minister Curran and Superintendent O’Brien strongly emphasised that, though the initiative will be promoted only within the Greater Dublin Area initially, all calls will be answered regardless of location and all information will be passed on to An Garda Síochána. Details of phase three have yet to be announced.

 

The project has already reported success in Blanchardstown LDTF where it was launched in 2006 as a part of the Blanchardstown LDTF’s supply reduction programme. After a successful six-week pilot phase, the campaign was extended.  An evaluation of the Blanchardstown pilot initiative revealed that over 296 calls were received over the six-week period, over two-thirds of which were regarded as useful by An Garda Síochána.1 Assistant Commissioner McHugh commented that ‘court actions are pending because of the success of that campaign. This initiative is about getting at the big dealers who are targeting our young people and destroying communities. People can reclaim their communities by using this safe and confidential mechanism to pass on their information.’ The Minister was also optimistic that the campaign would assist in promoting greater links between local communities and the gardaí. 

 

1. Connolly J (2006) Blanchardstown Dial to Stop Drug Dealing campaign. Drugnet Ireland, (20): 17–18. See also Blanchardstown Local Drugs Task Force (2006) Blanchardstown Dial to Stop Drug Dealing: campaign evaluation executive summary report. Blanchardstown: BLDTF.